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UAE Play Uzbekistan Today

Both Uzbekistan and UAE are already through. Uzbekistan beat Malaysia at home and away and did a better work against hosts UAE in Sharjah to claim nine out of nine points of their three starts. UAE claimed full points of their home and away games against Malaysia but they will not be playing for fun against their conquerors today.

UAE carried out final work-out at the match venue on Tuesday with all players taking part. But, the UAE will miss the efforts of the country’s football ace Ismail Matar along with Al Wahda winger Mahmoud Khamis due to injuries. Al Ahli’s defender Mohammed Qassim will be missing for personal affair.

Slovenian head coach Srecko Katanec secured the services of few upcoming stars who excelled with their clubs including Al Wahda’s forward Saeed Al Kathiri and midfielder Yaqoub Al Hosani as well as Al Dhafra’s striker Mohammed Salem and the Emirates’ defender Ali Rabie. “It’s going to be a very tough clash with both team trying to finish at the top of the table. The groups’ leaders will have priority in the Cup’s draw and that’s why both sides will fight hard to win. We need to appear in good shape,” Katanec told newsmen during the pre-match Press conference.

“I have studied the Uzbeks style of play. The players are well built and talented. It’s true that we will be missing some of our key players including the country’s ace Ismail Matar, but we managed to compensate for their absence,” he said.

UAE midfielder Subait Khater confirmed that they have come to Tashkent to win and not to play for fun. “We have prepared well. There’s nothing missing and we are in our best,” he said.

Brilliant defender Hamdan Al Kamali said there’s nothing easy in football. “It’s going to be very tough encounter and our job is to fight with lions’ hearts,” he said.

Debutant defender Ali Rabie said he’s delighted to unite with the national team.”I’m on the clouds. It’s a dream that at last came true and I will live up to the expectations,” he promised.

UAE skipper Saeed Al Kas has also confirmed that they have come to make their presence felt. “This game is very crucial for us,” he said.

The Uzbek newsmen have been asking about Ismail Matar to interview him, but they were too much surprised to know that he didn’t reunite with the squad.

Possible formation: Majed Nasser (GK), defenders Hamdan Al Kamali, Waleed Abas, Faris Jumaa, Yousuf Jaber, midfielders Subait Khater, Amer Mubarak, Abdullah Malullah and Fahad Masoud, strikers Mohammed Al Shehhi and Saeed Al Kas.

Match Officials: The AFC has appointed the following match officials for the AFC Asian Cup 2011 qualifiers Group C match between Uzbekistan and UAE as follows:

Match Commissioner: Ahmed Shahir (Maldives). Referee Assessor: Masoud Enayat (Iran). Referee: Shamsizzaman Tayeb Hasan (Bangladesh). Assistant Referees: Md. Mahabubur Rahman (Bangladesh). Halder Amanat Ali (Bangladesh). Fourth Official: Abdul Hannan Miron (Bangladesh)